Couples' experience of succesful therapy : a qualitative analysis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the couples' experiences of successful therapy and also to identify the role of a social worker when dealing with couples in conflict. A sample of five couples consisting of both husband and wife participated in the study. A qualitative research design was adopted by carrying out individual interviews with each couple who had attended couple therapy and found it successful at Agenzija Appogg. The term 'successful' is based on the criteria of the witness of the couples' feelings who are confident about their improvement, consequently the therapist and the partners' agreement that termination was due. Common emerging themes from the couples' experience were identified, by analyzing the interviews' transcriptions. The couples' experience of successful therapy was found to focus mainly on learning healthy communication skills and adapting new behavioural approaches towards each other, to increase intimacy in the relationship. Also the role of a social worker was specified and ways of dealing with couples in conflict were identified. The findings of this study also revealed the need for specialized trained couple therapists and also more services for couples in distress. Specific positive attributes in couple therapy such as therapeutic alliance were emphasized. It was also felt that there is a need to provide a service which could serve premarital, married and cohabiting couples how to acquire better communicating skills.